Dean Follows His Dream to Help the Achuar

Dean with Achuar Children

  • 7 indigenous cultures live in the Amazon rain forest of Ecuador
  • Of these cultures,7,000 Achuar people live on approximately 2 million acres of pristine Amazon rain forest
  • No road connects any Achuar village to the outside world
Achuar Education Project is a very effective way to support the Achuar villages and teach U.S. school children about the rainforest and the people who live there. What a powerful way to save a patch of the Amazon rainforest by supporting those who are the stewards and guardians of this beautiful sacred place.


“We talk about saving the rainforest of the Amazon, but how can people from the United States do this? One way is to support the education of the young people who call this place home. To support the guardians and the stewards of the rainforest who are already protecting what we both care about.”


The Objective of the Achuar Education Plan

The objective is to leverage the knowledge and wisdom the Achuar have for the Amazon rain forest of Ecuador into educational lessons for western students living outside the rain forest, particularly for students living in the United States. The vehicle to link these two communities of students is to have schools in the United States adopt a rain forest village school and commit to supporting the school with learning materials needed for one year.

What are the benefits for the Achuar?

The benefits to the Achuar are multiple. First, they acquire the much needed and difficult to obtain school supplies for the students. Second, they connect and promote their unique culture to various schools and individuals in the United States. These connections will build relationships and alliances to fulfill their commitment to protect and preserve the rain forest.

What are the benefits for the American schools who participate?

The students in the US learn authentic lessons about the Amazon rain forest from people who have lived in the forest for a millennium. From a culture that has a sacred relationship to the rain forest, they learn about one of the most bio diverse ecosystems in the world and the critical role it plays in the health of the world.

They will learn about a disparate and unique culture from a different country, what they value and who they are as a people. In doing so, they will learn how people with so little can still be so happy and hopefully will be inspired to make a positive change in their own lives.

Communities and Associations

Associations are groups of communities that encompass a geographical area where the communities are found. Within the rain forest of Ecuador there are 72 Communities and 14 Associations.

How many students are in each community?
Makusar - 80 students
Yusuntza - 35 students
Inak - 15 students
Mashuentza - 15 students
Tiinkias - 25 Primary students
Kasuentza - 15 students
Chichirat - 30 Primary students
Wichimi - 125 students, Primary and HS

Goals of Participation

The Makusar has seven communities with schools of various size enrollments. This region is more isolated and, as a result, the rain forest surrounding these communities tends to be more pristine. Being so isolated, transporting school materials to these communities is more challenging and more expensive.

The goal is to find at least seven US based schools to commit to an Achuar sister school in the Amazon rain forest of Ecuador. Alternatively, efforts from various schools can be combined to meet the needs of the Achuar schools.

How will the schools participate?

US Schools: Participating US schools will be asked to create drawings, photo collages, or short videos that showcase their culture and way of life. These will be delivered to the Achuar village schools.

Achuar Schools: Each Achuar village school will be required to help make a lesson plan/video about the Amazon rain forest and the Achuar way of life. Additionally, they will be required to create drawings of the rain forest that will be sent to the participating schools that helped generate support for school supplies and demonstrated support for the education project.

And This is What It's All About



Amazon Angels

Amazon Angels

An Amazon Angel is a school, class or individual that makes a financial contribution to the Achuar Education Project. Anyone who donates will be recognized as an Amazon Angel.


Amazon Angels Levels of Support

Gold Star
A Gold Star Amazon Angel is a school, class or individual who has committed $1,000 or more to support an entire school for a year.

Gold Star Amazon Angels will receive:
  • recognition and be celebrated on the Achuar Education website page
  • a framed Achuar drawing created by one of the children living in the Amazon rain forest
  • a certificate of recognition for the support of the Achuar and Amazon rain forest
  • a 50% discount on a full day school visit from Dean Jacobs and a free personal Skype call with Dean
When a contribution is made, please contact Dean to schedule your school visit and Skype call. Thank you!



Silver Star
A Silver Star Amazon Angel is a school, class or individual who has committed $500 to $999 support to the Achuar Education Project.

Silver Star Amazon Angels will receive:
  • framed Achuar drawing created by one of the children living in the Amazon rain forest
  • a certificate of recognition for the support of the Achuar and Amazon rain forest
  • a 25% discount on a full day school visit from Dean Jacobs and a free personal Skype call with Dean
When a contribution is made, please contact Dean to schedule your school visit and Skype call. Thank you!



Bronze Star
    A Bronze Star Amazon Angel is a school, class or individual who has committed $250 to $499 to support a school.

  • framed Achuar drawing created by one of the children living in the Amazon rain forest
  • a certificate of recognition for the support of the Achuar and Amazon rain forest
  • Free personal Skype call with Dean
When a contribution is made, please contact Dean to schedule your school visit and Skype call. Thank you!



This project will be a great way for the Achuar to see something positive about opening their lives to the west, especially since they've experienced the opposite (READ MORE).

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